In mid-May, we got a tip from a source: the New York startup scene was about to have its biggest exit in years.

The source refused to say which company, but gave us a couple hints that pointed to a possibility: Buddy Media, the agency that builds and markets Facebook pages for brands.

It had raised $50 million at a $500 million valuation in the fall, and we'd also heard rumors that Oracle had approached one of its competitors down in Atlanta.

The good news for the team in the news room: Buddy Media was hosting a party that night, on May 15, at its New York headquarters. Maybe we'd be able to sniff out a deal.

Before sending a reporter, though, we decided to call up Mike to make sure he was going to be there.

Good thing we called. In fact, Mike was out in California on some business.

Today, we know what Mike was up to. This morning, Salesforce.com officially announced this morning that is has acquired Buddy Media for around $700 million.

But back then, Mike was very convincing in telling us that Buddy Media was not for sale. He told us, on the record, that the goal was to become a "large independent company," and that nothing was in the works. He was even more convincing off the record.

We believed him. Oops.

Annoying for us? Sure.

But you have to give Mike some credit: a report about a big deal before it's done can ruin the whole process, costing investors and employees millions of dollars.

Remember when Google was going to acquire Yelp, but spiked the deal after it decided Yelp insiders had leaked word of it to the press?

Mike did what he had to do to keep the process quiet.

It wasn't the first time! Just weeks before the deal closed, we sent our intrepid photographer, Dan Goodman, to Buddy Media's new offices for a tour.

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We knew we were in the right place.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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And what a welcoming group.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The office takes up 4 floors as well as a lounge/meeting area on a fifth floor. Ashlee Nunez sits behind the front desk and has been with Buddy Media since October 2011.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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Down at the first floor where you enter they have a selection of awards they have received.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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And a small waiting area. There is Joe Ciarallo, VP Communications at Buddy Media and our tour guide for the day.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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They also have functional no frills meeting rooms.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The office floors are laid out in cubicles with offices for management and break out meetings on the side.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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We stop in the office of Buddy Media Co-founder and CEO Michael Lazerow and he is busy at work.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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He doesn't mind taking a portrait though and showing off his cool concert posters. Lazerow is a big fan of live music and loves Phish. It has even influenced the design of Buddy Media promotional materials...check out the poster behind him, it isn't for a band.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The company is focused on training and group experience so they have this big meeting area downstairs. It also doubles as a hang out area.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The stairwell from their last office...let's just say it wasn't quite as nice as the current one.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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They had bobble heads made for the staff and then put together these graphics of the bobble heads.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The company has an in-house studio for conducting media trainings and producing video content for the site and its partners.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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Tim Forster is their video producer and he has been with Buddy Media for a year and a half.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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Nearby is a workout room.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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Amanda Silbert is the Executive Assistant to Jeff Ragovin and Michael Jaindl.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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In the old office she used to work near her colleague Richard Boehmcke but not anymore...so he gave her his bobble head so as she says, "he is still with me."

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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Everyone really appreciates how hard she works!

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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Back up in the office everyone is busy working. Allie Rolnik (foreground) is a PR Associate with Buddy Media for about a year.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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As we make our way through the office we spot Peter Goodman (center), CEO and founder of Brighter Option with his Chief Product Officer Liam Doyle (right). They are meeting with David Honig (left), a Senior Director of Agency Global Relationships at Buddy Media. Buddy Media acquired Brighter Option in February.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The office has a very fun atmosphere, and they seem to enjoy making models of themselves. In addition to the bobble heads these big paper mache masks are a holdover from a Halloween costume party.

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

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The heads keep watch on the building next door, but the reflection in the window means they are just staring at themselves.